Washington University Men’s Soccer Ranked No. 21 in NSCAA Preseason Top-25 Poll

St. Louis, Mo., August 8, 2012 – The Washington University in St. Louis men’s soccer team begins the season ranked No. 21 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Continental Tire NCAA Division III preseason top-25 poll, as announced by the organization.

The Bears finished the 2011 season with a 15-4-1 record, and advanced to the NCAA Second Round before falling, 1-0, to eventual national champion Ohio Wesleyan University. The Bears finished with a share of the University Athletic Association (UAA) title last season, their sixth conference title in school history and first since 1999.

Washington U. returns four all-UAA performers and three all-Central Region honorees from last year’s squad. Leading the way for the 2012 returners is junior goalkeeper Jonathan Jebson, a 2011 first-team all-UAA and all-Central Region selection. Jebson finished the season ranked 17th in Division III with a 0.60 goals against average.

Senior backs Kenji Kobayashi and Brian Wright, who both started all 20 games for Washington U. and earned second-team all-UAA accolades a year ago, also return for the Bears. Kobayashi joined Jebson on the all-Central Region first team, while Wright was on the all-Central Region second team. Junior midfielder Michael Flowers, an honorable mention all-UAA honoree, recorded one goal and five assists for WU in 2011.

The Bears also return senior Zachary Query, who scored seven goals and four assists in 2011 to lead the Bears in goals and points (18). Junior Jeremy Kirkwood notched six goals and an assist for Washington U. a year ago.

Washington University travels to Birmingham, Ala., to face Birmingham Southern College in the season opener at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31.